If we land George and retain Randle, having Deng completely off the books for 2019 becomes a critical part of the second max coming in 2019 (along with other smaller moves depending on Randle's number). Assuming we don't get 2Max, you try to deal him for an expiring(s) that can hopefully help next year's team a bit. That would take assets of course, but perhaps not too much as you're only asking a team to take on one extra year of salary.

If you can't get such a deal done during the summer, he comes to camp. He could still be dealt deadline or as an expiring the following July.

The only way he’s stretched is if the Lakers sign two under-10-year free agents (I.e. George and Cousins) or LBJ and PG13 while letting Randle walk.

However, if they do sign LBJ and PG13, and want to keep Randle, then Deng will need to be traded. The question is, do they wait until LBJ and PG13 sign or Randle is given an offer sheet, when another team will have a significant advantage, or do they be proactive?

It probably comes down to price. Given that Deng will need to be traded next summer anyway, if a deal can be made with picks, pay the premium now, be done with it and make this summer unfettered. That being said, if there are no takers at a reasonable price, then they choose two or PG13, LBJ and Randle, should they be fortunate enough to be in that position.

The only way he’s stretched is if the Lakers sign two under-10-year free agents (I.e. George and Cousins) or LBJ and PG13 while letting Randle walk.

However, if they do sign LBJ and PG13, and want to keep Randle, then Deng will need to be traded. The question is, do they wait until LBJ and PG13 sign or Randle is given an offer sheet, when another team will have a significant advantage, or do they be proactive?

It probably comes down to price. Given that Deng will need to be traded next summer anyway, if a deal can be made with picks, pay the premium now, be done with it and make this summer unfettered. That being said, if there are no takers at a reasonable price, then they choose two or PG13, LBJ and Randle, should they be fortunate enough to be in that position.

If we are to sign LBJ and PG13, Deng will have either have to be traded or stretched first. Otherwise we won't have the necessary cap room to sign both max FAs. So we don't actualy have the luxury of trading Deng after signing both LBJ and PG13. Deng has to go either by trade or by being released first.

Theorectically, we could sign one of the 2 max FAs, try to trade Deng and then sign the other. But I think the lakers will try to lock up both Max FAs ASAP for obvious reasons. And if the cost is stretching or trading Deng beforehand, then so be it.

The only way he’s stretched is if the Lakers sign two under-10-year free agents (I.e. George and Cousins) or LBJ and PG13 while letting Randle walk.

However, if they do sign LBJ and PG13, and want to keep Randle, then Deng will need to be traded. The question is, do they wait until LBJ and PG13 sign or Randle is given an offer sheet, when another team will have a significant advantage, or do they be proactive?

It probably comes down to price. Given that Deng will need to be traded next summer anyway, if a deal can be made with picks, pay the premium now, be done with it and make this summer unfettered. That being said, if there are no takers at a reasonable price, then they choose two or PG13, LBJ and Randle, should they be fortunate enough to be in that position.

If we are to sign LBJ and PG13, Deng will have either have to be traded or stretched first. Otherwise we won't have the necessary cap room to sign both max FAs. So we don't actualy have the luxury of trading Deng after signing both LBJ and PG13. Deng has to go either by trade or by being released first.

Theorectically, we could sign one of the 2 max FAs, try to trade Deng and then sign the other. But I think the lakers will try to lock up both Max FAs ASAP for obvious reasons. And if the cost is stretching or trading Deng beforehand, then so be it.

That’s true, I guess I didn’t mean sign so much as agree to join the Lakers. So if during the moratorium, LBJ and PG13 commit to LA, other teams will know that Deng will have to be dealt if Randle is to be retained.

The only way he’s stretched is if the Lakers sign two under-10-year free agents (I.e. George and Cousins) or LBJ and PG13 while letting Randle walk.

However, if they do sign LBJ and PG13, and want to keep Randle, then Deng will need to be traded. The question is, do they wait until LBJ and PG13 sign or Randle is given an offer sheet, when another team will have a significant advantage, or do they be proactive?

It probably comes down to price. Given that Deng will need to be traded next summer anyway, if a deal can be made with picks, pay the premium now, be done with it and make this summer unfettered. That being said, if there are no takers at a reasonable price, then they choose two or PG13, LBJ and Randle, should they be fortunate enough to be in that position.

If we are to sign LBJ and PG13, Deng will have either have to be traded or stretched first. Otherwise we won't have the necessary cap room to sign both max FAs. So we don't actualy have the luxury of trading Deng after signing both LBJ and PG13. Deng has to go either by trade or by being released first.

Theorectically, we could sign one of the 2 max FAs, try to trade Deng and then sign the other. But I think the lakers will try to lock up both Max FAs ASAP for obvious reasons. And if the cost is stretching or trading Deng beforehand, then so be it.

Yeah, i could see them trading Deng on draft day. This would be extremely risky though, but it might increase our chances of signing those free agents. Imagine going to those free agents and saying, "We want to sign you but first we need to find someone to take Deng's contract, give us a few hours to get something done". Idk about that.

He will be traded for another bad, but not as bad contract + 5 million and one or two of our firsts. No way is he traded with Hart. that contract, likely half of Dengs contract will be stretched. Maginka then signs Pg, Lebron and Jr - in that order._________________The great Laker Center Tradition continues.....Mikan, Wilt, Kareem, Shaq, Gasol....Lopez!

Why would any other Team trade for him (without getting money and/or talent in return)?

He is nothing more than a boat anchor at this point.

Lakers should have him in camp and give him some freakin' minutes, that way he can show his talent, try and redeem himself and hopefully show what he has left in he tank..

I was just hit with a scary thought.. I recall before he came to the Lakers he was putting up good numbers as a PF, well if we lose Randle and with Nance gone, then Lakers will need someone to back up Kuz at the PF position..._________________Lakers 2018-2019: Wait until next year...

Why would any other Team trade for him (without getting money and/or talent in return)?

He is nothing more than a boat anchor at this point.

Lakers should have him in camp and give him some freakin' minutes, that way he can show his talent, try and redeem himself and hopefully show what he has left in he tank..

I was just hit with a scary thought.. I recall before he came to the Lakers he was putting up good numbers as a PF, well if we lose Randle and with Nance gone, then Lakers will need someone to back up Kuz at the PF position...

There's a saying that it's better to keep your mouth shut and let people wonder about your intelligence than to open your mouth and confirm it.

You could apply the same logic to Luol and the Lakers. The Lakers would rather not play Deng and have other front offices wonder if he can still contribute anything to their teams than to play him and let it be known throughout the league that he likely can't.

I wonder if they would consider the extend & strech idea that was floated a while ago.

I don't know if that's possible, but it might be moot anyway. If the Lakers want LBJ, PG13 and Randle, I don't think reducing Deng's hit will be enough, he'll have to be traded.

If the Lakers are content to let Randle go, they'll have room for LBJ and PG13 just stretching Deng.

Now if the Lakers want to keep Randle and sign two under-10-year max players, then it might make sense to explore an extend-and-stretch, but given Cousins' injury, this seems unlikely.

If they extend and stretch Deng, they would have to pay him 3.3 million over 11 years. That would put us approximately 1.3 million short of being able to sign James, George and Randle. And, that is with us not bringing back Bryant and Zubac, while renouncing all free agents accept for Randle. And trading the #25.

Why would any other Team trade for him (without getting money and/or talent in return)?

He is nothing more than a boat anchor at this point.

Lakers should have him in camp and give him some freakin' minutes, that way he can show his talent, try and redeem himself and hopefully show what he has left in he tank..

I was just hit with a scary thought.. I recall before he came to the Lakers he was putting up good numbers as a PF, well if we lose Randle and with Nance gone, then Lakers will need someone to back up Kuz at the PF position...

Trade him to the Minnesota Bulls. We get their picks in the lottery, they get Deng.

Ideally the Lakers would have gotten Deng to medically retire last season and then his salary would no longer count against the cap. But unfortunately the Lakers took the worst possible approach by running Deng's value to an even greater negative by just having him sit out.

Ideally the Lakers would have gotten Deng to medically retire last season and then his salary would no longer count against the cap. But unfortunately the Lakers took the worst possible approach by running Deng's value to an even greater negative by just having him sit out.

You can't make somebody medically retire. Physically he's fine. Also if we played him some people here would complain he is taking minutes away from the younger players. It's an unfortunate situation for both sides._________________Nobody in the NBA can touch the Laker brand, which, like the uniform color, is pure gold.

The league hates us so no one is going to help us complete a trade without trying to pry away valuable assets (ex: Hart / Kuzma) from us. If a team isn’t willing to take him for a 1st rounder then we tell them to F off and just deal with the contract till the trade deadline.

The league hates us so no one is going to help us complete a trade without trying to pry away valuable assets (ex: Hart / Kuzma) from us. If a team isn’t willing to take him for a 1st rounder then we tell them to F off and just deal with the contract till the trade deadline.

If the situation was reversed with the Lakers in a position to help another team with a bad contract, would Magic & Pelinka agree to make a trade favorable to the other team or would they expect payment in full?

Why are you expecting another team to do a trade favorable for the Lakers when the Lakers would refuse to make a trade favorable for another team?